Seventeen persons arrested during anti-illegal worker in 3-day operations

 The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and joint operations with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Champion” and “Powerplayer” for four consecutive days from December 5 to December 8.
A total of 10 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers, three overstayers, one illegal immigrant and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested.
During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 53 target locations including commercial buildings, a garage, a massage parlour, a residential building, restaurants and a warehouse. A total of eight suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested.
The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised four men and four women, aged 38 to 53.
Among them, three women were holders of recognisance forms, which prohibit them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was suspected of using and being in possession of Hong Kong identity cards related to another person.
Furthermore, one man, aged 54, was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested. One man, aged 22, suspected of aiding and abetting persons who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, was also arrested.

In addition, during operations “Champion” and “Powerplayer”, enforcement officers raided 24 target locations in Central district and New Territories North Region including a garage, a restaurant and a warehouse. A total of two suspected illegal workers, one suspected employer, three overstayers and one illegal immigrant were arrested. The suspected illegal workers comprised two men, aged 31 and 35.

Among them, one man was a holder of a recognisance form, which prohibits him from taking any employment. One man, aged 40, was suspected of employing the illegal workers. Three female overstayers, aged 33 to 54, were arrested. Furthermore, one male illegal immigrant was also arrested. In addition, he was suspected of using and being in possession of a false instrument. Among them, two suspected illegal workers, two overstayers and one suspected employer were handled by the ImmD.

An ImmD spokesman said, “Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties.”